This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I’m joined by Lara Acosta, creator, strategist, and one of the most trusted voices on LinkedIn. Lara has built a multi–six-figure business using one platform, one funnel, and a level of consistency most people only talk about.
In this conversation, Lara opens up about the posting habits, content styles, and small decisions that helped her grow an audience of hundreds of thousands, without trends, hacks, or cold outreach. She shares how she thinks about visibility, why simple posts outperform complicated ones, and how creators can stand out in a space where most people quit long before the results show up.
We go deep into discipline, niche clarity, momentum, and the email-first approach that drives most of her revenue. If you're serious about growing on LinkedIn, making money from your expertise, or building a brand that people remember, this episode will give you the spark and the direction.
03:10 The content style dominating LinkedIn right now (and why simple posts outperform polished ones)
11:20 How to use your own story when you don’t feel “expert enough”
15:50 The funnel that drives most of Lara’s revenue (LinkedIn → email → conversion)
23:40 Who benefits from building a personal brand, and who doesn’t
33:20 The posting rhythm that grows almost anyone within six months
38:05 Authority vs. relatability: why people buy from creators who feel “close,” not perfect
41:40 The trap of chasing big ideas and the one thing that actually moves a business forward
49:20 Why waiting to feel ready keeps creators stuck for years
58:40 Repetition, memory, and becoming known for something real
1:15:15 The origin story of Kleo: how a problem they had turned into a fast-scaling product
About Lara Acosta
Lara Acosta is a creator and entrepreneur known for her no-nonsense approach to personal branding and business growth. She has built multiple six-figure companies through organic content, a high-retention newsletter, and a simple conversion system that doesn’t rely on cold outreach or heavy sales tactics.
She is the co-founder of Kleo, an AI-supported content tool built by top LinkedIn creators to help entrepreneurs write better posts, store ideas, and stay consistent without overthinking.
Lara teaches creators, founders, and service providers how to grow with clarity, consistency, and a tone that feels like them, not a template.
Connect with Lara:

📱 Instagram: @laraacostar
💼 LinkedIn: Lara Acosta
🌐 kleo.so
🎙️YouTube: Lara Acosta
Stay connected with me
📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co
👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson
💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson
🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I’m joined by Andrew Adams, speaker, coach, and self-mastery teacher, whose story of recovery and rebirth will stop you in your tracks.
After spending 12 years in addiction, Andrew rebuilt his entire life from the inside out. Today, he helps others do the same, guiding people to break patterns, let go of attachments, and find peace within themselves.
In this episode, Andrew shares the 5 cheat codes that helped him move from survival to self-mastery. We talk about how to spot the real source of your pain instead of just treating symptoms, how to shift your relationship with control, and why emotional intelligence is the difference between chaos and calm.
This conversation goes way deeper than surface-level healing or “feel good” advice. It’s honest, raw, and full of truth. If you’ve ever caught yourself in the same loop, feeling like change is out of reach, this episode will remind you how much power you actually hold.
01:04 The moment that sparked Andrew’s transformation
04:20 “The pattern is not the problem”: looking beneath the surface
09:10 How awareness shifts more than willpower ever can
13:45 Cravings as clues and what they reveal about your inner world
18:30 The illusion of control and learning to let go
23:05 Redefining emotional intelligence (and why monks might have it easy)
28:40 “Pain is sacred”: finding purpose in the hard seasons
34:15 Love as a healing frequency
39:20 Power × Purpose = Prosperity: the formula for a full life
About Andrew Adams
Andrew Adams is a high-impact speaker and self-mastery coach who helps people reconnect with their power through awareness, healing, and emotional intelligence. After overcoming more than a decade of addiction, he now teaches others how to turn pain into purpose and live from the frequency of love.
Connect with Andrew:

📱 Instagram: Andrew Adams
💼 LinkedIn: Andrew Adams
Stay connected with me
📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co
👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson
💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson
🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Chris Lee, world-renowned transformational coach, speaker, and author, to talk about the profound inner work behind success, abundance, and self-mastery.

Chris has spent over 25 years transforming the lives of thousands of people worldwide through his workshops, coaching, and media appearances, teaching people how to live an abundant, prosperous life. He’s known for his direct yet compassionate approach that gets to the root of limiting beliefs and rewires your mindset for radical change.

We talk about the difference between having all the information (thanks ChatGPT) and transformation, why motivation alone isn’t enough, and how to break free from the victim mindset that keeps you playing small. Chris shares the habits, hacks, and perspective shifts that have shaped top performers, from redefining self-worth to mastering your self-talk and holding yourself (and others) to the highest standard.

If you’ve ever felt like you know what to do but can’t seem to do it... this conversation will completely change how you see yourself and your potential 🤞

03:05 The fear of “no”, and why you should ask anyway
08:40 What makes transformational coaching different from motivation
18:50 Information ≠ Transformation, why knowing isn’t doing
25:40 Healing your neural pathways and reprogramming your beliefs
33:00 The $100K personal development budget that changed everything
40:10 Ditch the drainers for dreamers and build a growth-minded circle
47:25 Feedback as a superpower for unstoppable growth
54:30 From victim to creator, reclaiming your power
1:03:10 The language shift that changes everything: “I have to” → “I choose to”
1:14:40 Living your dream now, not later

About Chris Lee
Chris Lee is a transformational trainer, coach, and speaker with over 25 years of experience leading workshops and seminars around the world. He has trained thousands of people through his signature programs, helping them create extraordinary results in business, relationships, and life.
He is the author of the bestseller Dile Yes! Ala VIDA, and the creator of The Torch Workshop, a leadership seminar for teens offered globally. Chris has led corporate trainings for organizations such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, Amgen, Procter & Gamble, and Miss America, and has been featured across Univision and Telemundo.
He is also a recurring guest on The School of Greatness podcast with Lewis Howes and continues to inspire audiences worldwide through his transformational work and speaking engagements.

Connect with Chris:

📱 Instagram: @chrisleemotivator

Stay connected with me

📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co
👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson
💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson
🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson